Georgia didn’t need long to remind everyone what its tight end room can do.
The Bulldogs rolled Tennessee State 63-3 to open the 2026 season, and while the scoreline was no surprise, the way Georgia used its tight ends definitely was. Four different Georgia quarterbacks completed passes to 15 different players, and four of those pass-catchers were tight ends. The only one of Georgia’s top tight ends who didn’t haul in a pass was Lawson Luckie.
Jaden Reddell, Elyiss Williams, Kaiden Prothro, and Ethan Barbour combined for six catches, and three of those went for touchdowns. Even better for Georgia, two of the grabs traveled more than 20 yards, and every one of them went for at least 10.
For a program that built a reputation on tight end production, that kind of showing felt like a familiar sight. Over the past couple of seasons, that edge had faded a bit. Against Tennessee State, though, there were signs that Georgia may be ready to put that part of the offense back at the center of everything.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has a room that looks loaded. Elyiss Williams has already drawn comparisons to Darnell Washington, while true freshman Kaiden Prothro has been turning heads and making the coaches figure out how to get him on the field more. That kind of talent is hard to ignore, and Saturday made it clear what happens when Georgia decides to lean into it.
Even with limited snaps and a playbook that clearly wasn’t fully opened up, the Bulldogs still showed how dangerous this group can be when defenses have to account for tight ends as actual weapons instead of just blockers on the edge.
Williams, in particular, looks like he could be a major problem. At 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds, he has the frame, the hands, and the blocking power that NFL teams love. He also showed he can go get it in the air.
Gunner Stockton finds Elyiss Williams who goes UP and over for the Georgia touchdown ❗️
pic.twitter.com/sIosUS2rxS
- The Goal Line Grind (@theGLgrind) September 5, 2026
That’s the kind of play that makes the comparisons to Washington easy to understand. Williams is a massive target, but he’s not just a body out there.
He can block, he can catch, and he can win vertically. That combination is exactly why he’s likely to climb NFL Draft boards as the season goes on.
For now, though, he’s another dangerous piece in Bobo’s offense. Georgia would be wise to keep looking for ways to use him the way Todd Monken used Washington, especially on routes that let a big tight end catch the ball in space and do damage after the catch.
Next week’s matchup with Western Kentucky gives Georgia another chance to keep feeding that group. If Luckie and Colton Heinrich both get involved against the Hilltoppers, that would only add to the sense that Georgia’s tight end pipeline is back in full force.
It was only one game, and it came against an FCS opponent. Still, what Georgia’s tight ends showed in the opener was enough to turn heads.
TEU looks alive again in Athens. Probably.
In Other News...
Jeremy Bell Gave Georgia A Moment Fans Wont Soon Forget
Jeremy Bells fourth-quarter touchdown was the kind of moment that can cut through everything else happening around a game. The Georgia receiver hauled in a 54-yard score in the win over Tennessee State, and for a program that has spent the season balancing expectation with emotion, it stood out for more than just the yardage. Bell has recently been dealing with the loss of his brother, U.S. Army Specialist Elijah Tiller, yet he stayed with the team and continued to contribute when Georgia needed him.
Kirby Smart praised Bell for the way he handled such a difficult stretch while remaining committed to his teammates. In a sport where availability is often treated like the only measure of toughness, Bells performance carried a different kind of weight for Georgia. His touchdown added to the win, but it also gave fans a reminder of what perseverance can look like when football and life collide. [Read more 🡒]
Former Georgia DB Finds Another Path As Bulldogs Depth Evolves
JaCorey Thomas is taking another turn in his football journey after leaving Georgia and landing at West Virginia for the 2026 season. The former Bulldogs safety, who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and later got a look in Carolina Panthers minicamp, is using a granted fifth season of eligibility to keep his college career going after a long run in Athens.
Thomas leaves Georgia with plenty of experience behind him, having played in 47 games and finished with 63 tackles during his time in the program. For a Bulldogs secondary that keeps evolving, his departure is another reminder of how much turnover can follow in the wake of roster movement, even for players who spent years building themselves into dependable depth pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Added Intrigue To A Massive Running Back Battle
Georgias season opener against Tennessee State brought more than just the usual kickoff buzz, as the Bulldogs also hosted one of the most closely watched young backs in the country. Kevin Hartsfield, the No. 1 running back in the 2028 recruiting class, was on campus for the visit, and Georgia remains firmly in the thick of his recruitment as one of his top options.
The timing only adds to the intrigue, especially with Kemon Spell already committed to Georgia in the 2027 class. Spell could end up being a major factor in how Hartsfield views the Bulldogs future backfield, and this visit may have nudged Georgia into an even stronger position as the race for Hartsfield continues. [Read more 🡒]